History of Alexander Zverev in Timeline

Alexander Zverev, a German professional tennis player, currently holds the world No. 3 ranking. With a career-high ranking of world No. 2, he boasts 24 ATP Tour singles titles and two doubles titles. While a three-time major runner-up, Zverev's career highlights include winning a gold medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, and securing titles at the 2018 and 2021 ATP Finals, solidifying his position as a top player in the sport.

Sections (4)

Full Timeline Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles

1986: Teenager's Record

In 2016, Zverev became the first teenager to record three consecutive victories against top ten opponents since Boris Becker in 1986.

1990: Irina Zvereva Competes in Germany

In 1990, Irina Zvereva went to Germany to compete at a tournament, with her husband accompanying as her coach. This event led to their eventual settlement in Germany.

1995: Boris Becker wins season-ending championships

In 1995, Boris Becker was the last German to win the season-ending championships before Zverev.

April 1997: Alexander Zverev's Birth

In April 1997, Alexander Zverev was born in Hamburg, Germany, to Russian parents Irina Zvereva and Alexander Mikhailovich Zverev.

Others born on this day/year

2000: Tommy Haas wins silver medal at Sydney Olympics

In 2000, Tommy Haas won a silver medal at the Sydney Olympics; this was the last medal won by a German man before Zverev's gold in 2021.

2004: First Top 20 Victory Since Gasquet

Alexander Zverev became the first 17-year-old to defeat a top 20 opponent since Richard Gasquet in 2004, showcasing his growing talent.

2005: Youngest Boys' Champion Since Donald Young

In 2013, Zverev was named the ITF Junior World Champion. This accomplishment made him the youngest boys' champion since Donald Young achieved the same feat in 2005.

2006: First Semifinal Since Čilić

Alexander Zverev became the first 17-year-old to make a semifinal since Marin Čilić in 2006, further solidifying his position as a rising star.

2006: Top 20 Debut

In 2016, Alexander Zverev's performance at the Shanghai Masters helped him rise to No. 20 in the ATP rankings, making him the youngest player to debut in the top 20 since Novak Djokovic in 2006.

2007: David Nalbandian wins multiple Masters titles

In 2007, David Nalbandian was the first player outside of the Big Four to win multiple Masters titles in the same season.

2007: Youngest Masters Champion Since Djokovic

In May, Zverev won his first Masters title at the Rome Masters, defeating Novak Djokovic in the final. He became the youngest Masters champion since Djokovic in 2007 and the first champion born in the 1990s.

2009: Youngest Challenger Title Winner Since Tomic

Alexander Zverev became the youngest player to win a Challenger title since Bernard Tomic in 2009, highlighting his early success.

January 2011: First Junior Match

In January 2011, Alexander Zverev played his first junior match at the age of 13 at a grade 4 tournament in Poland, marking the beginning of his junior career.

2011: Qualifying Tournament Entry

In 2011, at the age of 14, Zverev entered qualifying at three different tournaments, including the Moselle Open on the ATP Tour, but lost all of his matches.

August 2012: Professional Main Draw Debut

In August 2012, Alexander Zverev won his professional main draw debut against Christian Lichtenegger at a Futures event in Germany, marking his first victory in a professional tournament.

2012: First ITF Title

In 2012, Zverev won his first ITF title at the Fujairah Junior Championships, a Grade 4 tournament in the United Arab Emirates. This marked an early milestone in his junior career.

2013: David Ferrer as coach

In 2013, David Ferrer was a French Open Finalist.

2013: ATP Tour Debut

In 2013, Zverev made his main draw debut on the ATP Tour at the International German Open, marking his entry into higher-level professional tennis.

2013: French Open Runner-Up

In 2013, Zverev was a runner-up at the French Open.

2013: First Grade 1 Title

In 2013, Zverev won his first Grade 1 title over Andrey Rublev at the Open International Junior de Beaulieu-sur-Mer during the European clay court season.

2013: Jez Green Joins Team

In 2013, fitness trainer Jez Green, who previously worked with Andy Murray, started working with Alexander Zverev.

2014: Australian Open Junior Title

In 2014, Alexander Zverev won the singles event at the Australian Open against Omar Jasika and also defeated Kozlov to secure his first major title in his junior career.

2014: Stan Wawrinka wins Australian Open

In 2014, Stan Wawrinka won the Australian Open title; Zverev would later defeat him in the quarterfinals of the 2020 Australian Open.

2014: Braunschweig Challenger Title

In July 2014, Alexander Zverev won the Braunschweig Challenger, marking his first professional title and a significant breakthrough in his career.

2016: Hopman Cup with Sabine Lisicki

In 2016, Alexander Zverev competed in the Hopman Cup with Sabine Lisicki, winning their tie against the French team. Zverev won both his singles and mixed doubles matches, but they did not advance to the final.

2016: Davis Cup debut for Germany

In 2016, Alexander Zverev debuted for Germany in the Davis Cup against the Czech Republic. He lost to Tomáš Berdych in five sets in his debut match. He also played a decisive fifth rubber against Lukáš Rosol, losing the match which sent the Czech Republic into the next round.

2016: Most Double Faults on Tour

In 2016, Alexander Zverev hit the most double faults on tour.

2016: St. Petersburg Open Win and China Open

In 2016, Zverev won his first ATP title at the St. Petersburg Open, defeating No. 3 Stan Wawrinka in the final. Following this, he defeated No. 10 Thiem at the China Open and became the first teenager to record three consecutive victories against top ten opponents since Boris Becker in 1986.

2016: First ATP Title

In 2016, Zverev won his first career ATP title at the St. Petersburg Open, defeating top-ranked players and marking a significant milestone in his professional career.

2017: Zverev reveals his tennis idol and other interests

In 2017, Alexander Zverev named Roger Federer as his tennis idol. He also expressed his admiration for the Miami Heat in the NBA and Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga. In his free time, he enjoys playing basketball and golf, and is close friends with Marcelo Melo, Dominic Thiem, and Andrey Rublev.

2017: Laver Cup Debut

In 2017, Alexander Zverev participated in the inaugural Laver Cup in Prague, contributing four points by winning both of his singles matches for Team Europe, who defeated Team World 15–9.

2017: First Career Match Win in Davis Cup

In 2017, Alexander Zverev recorded his first career match win in the Davis Cup against Arthur De Greef of Belgium. However, he lost the doubles rubber and his second singles match, resulting in Belgium winning the tie 4–1.

2017: Nickname Preference

In 2017, Alexander Zverev stated that he would no longer be referred to as Sascha in professional settings, emphasizing his German identity.

2017: First Masters 1000 title at the Italian Open

In 2017, Zverev won his first Masters 1000 title at the Italian Open.

2017: Hiring Juan Carlos Ferrero

In the summer of 2017, Alexander Zverev made the decision to hire former world No. 1 Juan Carlos Ferrero at the Washington Open.

August 2018: Ivan Lendl Joins Coaching Team

In August 2018, Ivan Lendl joined Alexander Zverev's coaching team.

2018: Improved Serve and Return Rating

By 2018, Alexander Zverev improved his serve and return rating to 19th and 8th respectively. He landed 64.2% of his first serves and had a 32.4% first serve points won return rate.

2018: Miami Open Final Appearance

In 2018, Alexander Zverev achieved his best result at the Miami Open by reaching the final, marking a significant milestone in his career at that time.

2018: First Davis Cup Tie Win

In 2018, Alexander Zverev secured his first Davis Cup tie win, winning both of his singles matches against Alex de Minaur and Kyrgios to lead Germany to a 3–1 victory over Australia. In the quarterfinals against Spain, Zverev won against David Ferrer, but Spain ultimately won the tie after Zverev lost to Nadal.

2018: 2018 ATP Finals Title

In 2018, Alexander Zverev won the ATP Finals, adding a prestigious title to his list of accomplishments.

2018: Laver Cup Clinching Match Victory

In 2018, Alexander Zverev won the clinching match at the Laver Cup against Kevin Anderson, playing a crucial role in Team Europe's victory.

2018: Hopman Cup Final with Angelique Kerber

In 2018, Alexander Zverev, paired with Angelique Kerber, advanced to the Hopman Cup final. They won all three of their mixed doubles matches, but Zverev lost his singles match to Federer in the final, and they lost the decisive mixed doubles rubber against Switzerland.

July 2019: Split with Ivan Lendl

In July 2019, Alexander Zverev split with coach Ivan Lendl due to disappointing results and personal differences.

October 2019: Alleged Escalation of Violence

In October 2019, there was an alleged escalation of violence between Alexander Zverev and Olga Sharypova, as detailed in the August 2021 Slate magazine article.

2019: Final Hopman Cup Appearance

Alexander Zverev's last Hopman Cup appearance took place in 2019, marking the end of his four-year run in the competition.

2019: Hopman Cup Final Rematch

In 2019, Alexander Zverev and Angelique Kerber reached the Hopman Cup final again, setting up a rematch against Federer and Bencic of Switzerland. They won all six of their singles matches but lost two of their mixed doubles matches and ultimately lost the final in a mixed doubles tiebreak.

2019: First Round Loss at Wimbledon

In 2019, Alexander Zverev lost in the first round of Wimbledon to Arthur Rinderknech in five sets, marking his first first-round loss at a major since 2019.

2019: Mixed Doubles

In 2019, Alexander Zverev participated in mixed doubles matches with Angelique Kerber for the first time. In 2024, he would again participate in mixed doubles matches with her at the United Cup.

2019: Davis Cup Qualifying Round Wins

In 2019, Alexander Zverev won both of his singles matches in the Davis Cup qualifying round against Hungary, contributing to Germany's 5–0 victory. He did not participate in the finals in November.

2019: Laver Cup Clinching Match Victory

In 2019, Alexander Zverev won the clinching match at the Laver Cup against Milos Raonic, contributing significantly to Team Europe's win.

2019: Asian Swing Performance

In 2019, Alexander Zverev's performance in the Asian swing included winning his 21st title in Chengdu by defeating Roman Safiullin. However, he lost in the second round of the Shanghai Masters, where he was the defending finalist from 2019.

2019: 2019 French Open Quarterfinal

In 2019, Zverev reached his second consecutive quarterfinal at the French Open, where he lost to Novak Djokovic.

2019: 2019 Season: Australian Open, Mexican Open, and Geneva Open Win

In 2019, Zverev reached the fourth round at the Australian Open, was runner-up at the Mexican Open, and won the Geneva Open. He faced struggles early in the season due to a legal dispute with his former agent.

2019: Alleged Abuse During Laver Cup

In 2019, during the Laver Cup, Alexander Zverev allegedly punched Olga Sharypova in the face during an argument, as reported in October 2020.

May 2020: Alleged Abuse in Berlin

In May 2020, Alexander Zverev allegedly physically abused and damaged the health of a woman during an argument in Berlin. This led to a penalty order being issued against him in October 2023.

May 2020: Alleged Choking Incident

In May 2020, Alexander Zverev allegedly pushed Brenda Patea into a wall and choked her during a dispute. She spoke about the incident publicly for the first time in November 2023.

June 2020: COVID-19 Self-Isolation Controversy

In June 2020, after potential exposure to COVID-19 following Novak Djokovic's Adria Tour, Alexander Zverev announced self-isolation after testing negative. However, he was later seen at a party in Monaco, leading to criticism.

October 2020: Abuse Allegations by Olga Sharypova

In October 2020, Alexander Zverev's ex-girlfriend Olga Sharypova accused him of physical and emotional abuse in an article in Racquet magazine. She cited incidents including being punched in the face during an argument at the 2019 Laver Cup. Zverev denied the allegations.

2020: Most Double Faults on Tour

In 2020, Alexander Zverev again hit the most double faults on tour, repeating his statistic from 2016.

2020: ATP Cup

In 2020, Alexander Zverev represented Germany at the ATP Cup with Jan-Lennard Struff, Kevin Krawietz, and Andreas Mies. During the group stage, Zverev lost all three of his matches against Alex de Minaur, Denis Shapovalov, and Stefanos Tsitsipas. Germany finished third in their group and did not advance.

2020: Working with David Ferrer

In 2020, Alexander Zverev started to work with former World Number 3 and 2013 French Open Finalist David Ferrer as his coach.

2020: Tokyo Olympics Gold Medal

In 2020, Alexander Zverev won a gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics, marking a significant achievement in his career.

2020: 2020 Season: ATP Cup and Australian Open Semifinal

In 2020, Zverev participated in the ATP Cup, representing Germany, and reached the semifinals of the Australian Open, his first major singles semifinal.

2020: First Major Final Since 2020 US Open

In 2020, Zverev reached his first Major final since the 2020 US Open.

2020: 2020 French Open, Cologne ATP 250 Wins, and Paris Masters Final

In 2020, Zverev reached the fourth round of the French Open, won two consecutive ATP 250 events in Cologne, and reached the final of the Paris Masters.

January 2021: Split with David Ferrer

In January 2021, Alexander Zverev and coach David Ferrer announced their split.

July 2021: 2021 Wimbledon and Top 5 Return

In July 2021, Zverev reached the fourth round at Wimbledon and returned to the top 5 in the rankings after 2 years.

August 2021: Injunction Against Slate and Carillo Steps Down

In August 2021, Alexander Zverev secured an injunction against Slate, barring them from publishing assault allegations. Slate stood by their reporting and appealed the decision. Mary Carillo stepped down from her role at the 2021 Laver Cup in response to the ATP's handling of the allegations.

August 2021: Slate Magazine Article

In August 2021, a second article by Ben Rothenberg was released in Slate magazine, detailing further allegations of abuse by Alexander Zverev against Olga Sharypova, picking up from the first article.

November 2021: 2021 Rolex Paris Masters and Career-High Ranking

In November 2021, Zverev reached the semifinals of the Rolex Paris Masters, leading to him equalling his career-high ranking of World No. 3 on November 8, 2021.

2021: ATP Finals Qualification

In 2021, Alexander Zverev qualified for the ATP Finals for the first time since 2021.

2021: 2021 ATP Finals Title

In 2021, Alexander Zverev secured another ATP Finals title, further solidifying his position among the top players.

2021: Laver Cup Win

In 2021, Alexander Zverev won his first team event at the Laver Cup. In 2024, he would win his second team event at the United Cup.

2021: Birth of Daughter Mayla

In 2021, Alexander Zverev's daughter, Mayla, was born to his ex-girlfriend Brenda Patea.

2021: Career-Best Results

In 2021, Zverev achieved career-best results, marking a peak in his performance.

2021: 2021 Season Start: ATP Cup and Australian Open Quarterfinals, Acapulco Title

In 2021, Zverev began the season at the ATP Cup and reached the quarterfinals of the Australian Open. He also won his 14th ATP title in Acapulco.

2021: Australian Open Quarterfinals

In 2021, Zverev reached the quarterfinals of the Australian Open for the first time since 2021, defeating multiple opponents before losing to Danill Medvedev.

2021: 2021 BNP Paribas Open Quarterfinal

In 2021, Zverev reached the quarterfinals of the BNP Paribas Open.

2021: 2021 Western & Southern Open Title

In 2021, Zverev won the Western & Southern Open, his second Masters 1000 final of the year, marking his 17th career title and fourth of the season.

2021: 2021 Clay Court Season: Monte Carlo and Munich Results

In 2021, during the clay court season, Zverev finished in the third round in Monte Carlo and reached the quarterfinals in Munich.

2021: Jez Green Departs Team

In 2021, fitness trainer Jez Green departed Alexander Zverev's team after working with him for around seven years.

2021: Last Masters title before 2024

In 2021, it was Zverev's first Masters title since 2021.

2021: Dating Sophia Thomalla

Since 2021, Alexander Zverev has been dating German actress Sophia Thomalla.

June 2022: Career-High Ranking of World No. 2

Despite his exit at Roland Garros, in June 2022 Zverev reached a career-high ranking of world No. 2 on June 13, 2022.

June 2022: Win at Australian Open

In June 2022, Alexander Zverev won his first match at the Australian Open since June 2022 by beating lucky loser, Juan Pablo Varillas, in the first round in five sets.

August 2022: Zverev announces diabetes diagnosis and launches foundation

In August 2022, Alexander Zverev publicly announced that he has type 1 diabetes, a condition he was diagnosed with at the age of three. To support others with the condition, he launched the Alexander Zverev Foundation, a charity dedicated to helping people with diabetes.

2022: 2022 Season Start: ATP Cup and Australian Open

In 2022, Zverev represented Germany at the ATP Cup and reached the fourth round of the Australian Open.

2022: Ankle Injury at French Open

In 2022, Zverev suffered an ankle injury at the French Open, which impacted his season.

2022: Mexican Open Incident

In 2022, after a doubles loss at the Mexican Open, Alexander Zverev repeatedly struck the umpire's chair with his racket. He was defaulted from the tournament, fined $40,000 by the ATP, and given a suspended eight-week ban. Zverev later apologized.

January 2023: ATP Investigation Concludes

In late January 2023, the ATP announced that they would not punish Alexander Zverev following a 15-month investigation into abuse allegations, citing insufficient evidence.

July 2023: Second Woman's Allegations

In July 2023, allegations from a second woman, Brenda Patea, became public through a court filing regarding alleged bodily harm.

October 2023: Penalty Order Issued

On 2 October 2023, a Berlin court issued a penalty order against Alexander Zverev for "physically abusing and damaging the health of a woman during an argument in Berlin in May 2020," including a fine of €450,000. Zverev appealed the order.

November 2023: Brenda Patea's Public Statement

On 1 November 2023, Brenda Patea spoke publicly about the alleged abuse for the first time, stating that during a dispute in May 2020, Alexander Zverev pushed her into a wall and choked her.

2023: Zverev's insulin injection controversy at French Open

During a match at the 2023 French Open, Alexander Zverev was initially disallowed from injecting insulin on-court, which sparked criticism from the International Diabetes Federation and the JDRF. Tournament organizers later clarified that Zverev would be permitted to inject insulin on-court.

2023: US Open Controversy

During his 2023 US Open match against Jannik Sinner, Alexander Zverev halted play in response to a fan shouting a stanza from "Deutschlandlied", which he interpreted as Nazi sentiment. He ultimately lost the quarterfinals match against Carlos Alcaraz.

2023: Settlement in Lawsuit

In 2023, Alexander Zverev reached a settlement in a lawsuit filed by his ex-partner, Brenda Patea.

2023: United Cup and Australian Open

In 2023, Alexander Zverev represented Germany at the United Cup, losing to Jiří Lehečka and Taylor Fritz. Germany did not qualify for the knockout round. At the Australian Open, he won his first match since June 2022 against Juan Pablo Varillas but was defeated in the second round by Michael Mmoh.

2023: 2023 Season End

In 2023, Zverev failed to qualify for the semifinals at the ATP Finals due to set win-loss percentage, ending his 2023 season.

January 2024: ATP Advisory Council and Netflix Criticism

In January 2024, Alexander Zverev was appointed to the ATP Players Advisory Council, drawing criticism due to the pending domestic abuse charge. He was also featured on Netflix's "Break Point", which was criticized for ignoring the abuse allegations.

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May 2024: Berlin Criminal Court Trial Begins

In May 2024, the trial against Alexander Zverev in the Berlin Criminal Court began on May 31, 2024, bringing heightened scrutiny due to his Australian Open semifinal run.

June 2024: Trial Terminated

On 7 June 2024, the trial against Alexander Zverev was terminated after a settlement was reached out-of-court. Zverev agreed to pay €200,000, and the legal procedure concluded without any criminal record.

2024: Grass Court Performance

As of 2024, Alexander Zverev has not won a title on grass, but he has reached two finals and defeated Roger Federer on that surface. His best grass tournament remains Halle in his home country.

2024: 2024 Laver Cup victory in Berlin

At the 2024 Laver Cup edition in Berlin, Zverev secured a comeback victory against Francis Tiafoe to prevent Team World from potentially achieving a three-peat. Team Europe went on to win the Laver Cup for a fifth time.

2024: 2024 Rolex Paris Masters Win

At the 2024 Rolex Paris Masters, Zverev defeated Ugo Humbert in the final to clinch his second Masters 1000 trophy of the season and the World No. 2 ranking.

2024: 450th Career Win

At the US Open in 2024, Alexander Zverev achieved his 450th career win, becoming the second player born in the 1990s to reach this milestone. He also qualified for the 2024 ATP Finals.

2024: United Cup Victory

In 2024, Alexander Zverev led Team Germany to win the United Cup in Sydney, Australia. He won his singles matches against Lorenzo Sonego and Adrian Mannarino. He also won his mixed doubles match in the quarterfinals against Stefanos Tsitsipas and Maria Sakkari. Although he lost to Alex de Minaur in the semifinal, he won the mixed doubles, qualifying Germany for the final. In the final against Poland, he won his singles match against Hubert Hurkacz and the decisive mixed doubles match with Laura Siegemund, securing the United Cup title for Germany.

2024: Hamburg Open Final

In 2024, Alexander Zverev reached the final at the Hamburg Open, losing to Arthur Fils in three sets.

2024: Sixth Masters Title at Rome

In 2024, Zverev won his sixth Masters title at the Italian Open in Rome, defeating Nicolás Jarry in the final. This was his best result in Rome since 2017 and his first Masters title since 2021.

2024: 2024 French Open Loss

In the final set of the 2024 French Open final, Zverev was involved in a controversial overrule. Electronic line calling revealed that the serve was out. Had it not been overturned, Zverev would have broken back Alcaraz. Zverev lost the fifth set.

April 2025: Wins Bavarian Open for the third time

On 20 April 2025, Zverev’s birthday, he won the Bavarian Open, in Munich, for the third time, gaining his 24th title, and regaining the number 2 spot from Alcaraz. He also reached the round of 16 at the Madrid Open. He was given a code violation for taking a photo of a ball mark which he considered to have been erroneously called in.